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Our farm is situated in the far north of Finland, high in the Arctic Circle, in one of the last great wilderness areas in Europe, on the boundary of the northern border of the Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park (Finland's third largest national park).
- On the northern boundary of Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park, Finland's third largest
- MUSH with P.R.I.D.E. 'Certification Plus' - their highest rating
- 'No-kill' policy for retirees and non-running dogs
A labour of high standards
Maintaining a farm to high standards is very labour-intensive. As owners, we believe we have a huge responsibility to provide a safe, clean, positive and healthy environment for all our huskies and to manage them humanely. This attitude runs through every aspect of our company and is part of what makes us stand out.
We try to draw attention to the care of our sled dogs - what they eat, where they live and what they sleep in - so that clients learn to factor it in when choosing a sleddog farm and mushing experience. We believe it should matter as much as the price of the tour (and our prices are at the very reasonable end of the scale), yet much of the industry gives it little importance. We are told time and again that our farm stands out from most others in this respect.
Certification Plus
MUSH with P.R.I.D.E. is currently the only international industry standard, so we had our farm assessed by a vet against its recommended kennel standards. We were not surprised to find we not only passed but exceeded them in many ways, gaining their highest possible rating - Certification Plus: a symbol of excellence reflecting the emphasis we put on the care of our dogs.
Records and a no-kill policy
Our written dog files - covering everything from behaviour to vaccination and medical records, running distances and basic obedience - are pretty much unsurpassed and a source of real pride. So too is the fact that ours is one of the very few kennels in Scandinavia with a 'no-kill' policy for retirees and non-running dogs, so every dog here can live out its days enjoying a hard-earned rest. (For four years, Transun UK's sleddog farm Valimaa, in Kultima c. 40km from Hetta, was also under our management, and during those years their dogs benefitted from our no-kill policy and high welfare standards too.)
Farm & Safari EquipmentHow we source sustainably and make much of our own equipment, from sleds and lines to kennels, harnesses and collars, in one of the most remote regions of Europe.
Farm LayoutA virtual tour of the Hetta Huskies farm, divided into the farmhouse, dog kitchen and sick-dog areas, with its cages, chains, kota client area and 20-hectare training network.
Farm Maintenance & DevelopmentA year-by-year diary of the building and development projects squeezed into the roughly three workable months each summer, all aimed at improving life for the dogs and guides.
Kennels, Cages & ChainsWhy our dogs live outside through the arctic winter and how we use a dual system of double-kennel cages and individual running-circle chains to give them the best of both worlds.
The farm through the seasonsHow a husky farm's year revolves around getting dogs, equipment and guides ready for the winter client season, and how the work changes month by month.
Wilderness CabinsA scattering of family-owned wilderness cabins used as refreshment stops and overnight points on winter husky safaris, and available out of season for weekly rent or kayak journeys.